Axle-lubricator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet 1.

, JQ SJPATTBN.

AXLE LUBRICATOR. Patented July 19, 1892.

W/T/VESSES. /NVENTOH Qirromvkrs (No Model.) I 2 SheetS-Sheet 2.

AXLE LUBRIGATOR.

479,077. Patented July 19, 1892.

A W/ NESSES. INVENTOR.

W m/Q A TTORNEYS UNIT-no STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JAMES S. PATTEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AXLE-LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,077, dated July 19,1892. Application filed September 18, 1891- Serial No. 406,056. (Nomodel.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES S. PATTEN,re' siding at Baltimore, in theState of Maryland, have invented a new and Improved Axle- Lubricator, ofwhich the foliowing is a specification. The oil or other lubricant for acar-axle ournal is usually placed, along with its vehicle tow or cotton,directly in the chamber of the box, which slides up and down in thehanger or pedestal as the springs of the cartruck expand and contract.By my invention I provide a separate or supplementary box for holdingthe lubricant, together with a roller for conveying it to theaxle-journal, and such box is made of such reduced dimensions that itmay be contained in the chamber of the sliding box above referred to.

My improvements consists, therefore, in the construction of suchsupplementary lubricant-holding box and its appurtenances orattachments, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of myimproved axlebox, together with a larger inclosing-box that slides inthe hanger of a car-truck. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of myimproved box on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4: are perspective viewsof the cover and body, respectively of my improved box. Fig. 5 is a rearend View of the body of the same. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one ofthe roller j ournal-blocks employed in the aforesaid box.

My improved journal-box consists of the oblong rectangular body portionA, which receives and holds the lubricant, and a cap or cover B, ofwhich the ordinary brass or bearing-block 1) forms the top portion. Saidbox is of such dimensions that it may be introduced through the mouth ofthe ordinary axle-box O, that slides vertically in the cartruck pedestalor hanger. It is supported and pressed upward against the axle-journalby means of a spring or springs of any suitable form. The cover B has anend cap and a dependent flange b on three sides. Said flange conforms tobut fits loosely within the corresponding sides of the body portion A,as shown. WVings also project horizontally rearward to cover a part ofthe axle that would otherwise be left exposed. In the bottom of thechamber is arranged longitudinally a roller D, having severalcircumferential grooves. The axle-journal E rotates in contact with thisroller, which is therefore rotated in turn with greater speed, and,being partly immersed in oil, it constantly takes up a portion of thelatter and thus transfers it to the journal E, so that thefriction-bearing between the journal and brass b is always welllubricated. The bearings" of the grooved roller D are two blocks F,arranged transversely at the ends of the box A, and held in suchposition by means of projections f of the floor of part B, which flt insockets in the blocks, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The journals d of theroller D fit and work in semicircular grooves f that extend entirelyacross the respective bearing-blocks, whose width is twice the length ofthe journals. The said grooves f being also formed in both the upper andunder sides of the blocks F, it is apparent the latter may be reversedin position, end for end or bottom for top, when one portion of a groovebecomes worn so as to require it. The oil carried up on the axlejournalE as it revolves tends to run over the shoulder of the latter andaccumulate on the larger portion next the wheel. To remove it therefromand thus prevent it from spreading farther, I provide a series ofscrapers a, which consist of thin parallel ribs formed interiorly on thesemi-cylindrical flange ct, that projects from the inner end of the bodyA of the oil-box. The said flange slopes inward and the grooves betweenthe ribs or scrapers a become gradually deeper from the outer to theinner end, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4:. Since the flange a fits thebody of the axle, the oil is scraped off from the latter as it revolves,and is received by the grooves, which convey it into the chamber of thebox A, A portion of the oil that reaches the bearing 1) is rolled backand runs down the adjacent inner side of flange b. I have found,however, by practical test, that some portion of it will not drip intothe box A, but run up over its sides, and that by forming a series ofshallow notches or scallops b in the edge of the flange I) this resultis mainly prevented, since such notches not only constitute spaces thatbreak the continuity of contact of the parts A B, Fig. 2, but provideopenings through which oil may pass back into the box A. Such smallquantity of oil as inevitably passes upward above the notches b andflows down on the outside of the box A is received by grooves a formedin the same and extending around three of its sides and inclined forwardat a slight angle, so as to convey the oil into the concavity of the lipa that projects from the outer end of the box A, and whence it flowsback into the latter through a hole formed at the lowest part of saidconcavity.

Oil may be introduced into the box A B through the holes at the front orrear. It will be seen that a comparatively small quantity is required tomaintain a copious lubrication of the journal-bearing, and that inconsequence of being continuously taken up and used and escape from thebox A B being out 01f the waste of the lubricant is reduced to a minimumand practically to nothing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a car-axle lubricator, the combination, with the lubricant-holdingbox and take-up roller, oi the reversible bearing-blocks su pported inthe former, each of said blocks having a j ournal-groove extendingentirely across its face, whose width is twice the length of thejournals of said roller, as shown and described.

2. In a car-axle lubricator, the combination, with the lubricant-holdingbox and take-up roller, of the bearing-blocks for the latter having journal-grooves arranged opposite and parallel in upper and under sides,and adapted to be reversed top for bottom, as shown and described.

3. In a car-axle lubricator, the body portion of the lubricant-holdingbox, having the rearwardly-extended and inwardly-inclined semicircularfiange which conforms to the axle, provided with a series of ribs and aseries of intervening grooves, which become gradually shallower as theyextend outwardly to vauishin g points, whereby they serve to reconvcyinto the box that portion of the lubricant scraped off the journal bythe said ribs, as specifier].

4. In a car-axle lubricator, the body A of the lubricant-holding box,constructed integrally and having in its outer sides and outer end theoil-conducting grooves a and a, which incline downwardly, and an openingin said outer end for allowing the lubricant received in the grooves torc-enter the box, as shown and described.

JAMES S. PATTEN.

\Vitnesses:

MORTON SCIIAEFFER, W. M. STRAYER, Jr.

